Businessman George van der Merwe has been arrested.

Police confirmed that Mr Van der Merwe was apprehended Thursday in the Western Cape. He made a swift first appearance in the Ladismith Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Police from Sandton are expected to collect him from Ladismith, after which he will appear in the Randburg court on Friday, February 20.

Complainant speaks: ‘George told me he is there to kill me’

Mr Kumkani Ntuli spoke on the record with the Middelburg Observer, confirming that he is the complainant in one of the intimidation cases opened against Mr Van der Merwe.

Mr Ntuli, a consultant at Liberty Coal Mine, said he opened the case on January 21 following an alleged incident the previous evening at his home in Aerorand.

According to Mr Ntuli:
“George and his goons came to my house with about 20 cars and guns. I wanted to leave my house, but they blocked me. George told me that he is there to kill me and that he is coming back for me.”
He further alleges that after they left, Mr Van der Merwe began sending threatening messages:
“He said how he is going to kill one of the other executives and carve out his name on his belt. He threatened to kill me and my family, as well as the other executive and his family.”

Mr Ntuli said he was on his way to Witbank (eMalahleni) and only returned home late. The next day he consulted his attorney and opened a case.

Shortly afterwards, an employee of Mr Van der Merwe’s opened a counter-case of intimidation against Mr Ntuli, which Middelburg Police communicated to him.

Second case opened in Sandton

Another executive of Liberty Coal, Danny McGowan (owner and operator of Liberty Coal), also opened an intimidation case in Sandton.
In the days that followed, a poster circulated widely, claiming Van der Merwe was a wanted person. His photograph appeared on the poster.

Last Monday, heavily armed police officers were seen at his Middelburg home, but he was not there.

The Gauteng Police media spokesperson, Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, confirmed on Thursday morning that the poster was fake, but added that police were indeed searching for Mr Van der Merwe and granted the media permission to publish his name.

Later the same day, he was arrested near Ladismith.

According to information received by the Observer, he was accompanied by armed men with rifles and pistols at the time of his arrest.

Van der Merwe previously denied allegations

About a week prior to his arrest, the Observer published an article detailing the allegations made against him. In an interview at the time, Mr Van der Merwe denied issuing any threats of violence against Mr McGowan or his family.

He further stated that he was guided by “faith, conscience and respect for the law” and that he did not intend or advocate harm towards any person.
“I deny engaging in intimidation, subterfuge or misuse of any community or state structures,” he said.

The dispute is allegedly rooted in business tensions, following Liberty Coal’s termination of contracts with Salaria and Veralogix.

Further charges expected

Following Mr Van der Merwe’s upcoming court appearance in Randburg relating to the intimidation case opened there, Mr Ntuli said he believes Van der Merwe will also be charged in connection with the Middelburg case.
“I am not going to let this case go!” Mr Ntuli told the Observer.

• The Observer reached out to Mr Van der Merwe’s attorney, André van Aswegen, who asked that the journalist contact him on Monday (tomorrow).